The quality control process consists of measuring height, volume and diameter, to assure that each bun is within tolerance and the verification that the sesame seeds are evenly distributed on the top surface. Based on these measurements and observations, a good bun/bad bun decision is made. The co-ordinates of each good bun are then reported to a robot that picks it from the conveyor and places it into boxes. If a bun has a defect of any kind, the picking is skipped and the bun falls into a reject basket at the end of the conveyor.

SICK's IVC3D camera combines the flexibility of a smart camera with high-speed 3D image capture and processing. This combination addresses the fact that many vision inspection applications often miss vital information because the majority of cameras currently in use only look in two dimensions.

With food applications in mind, shatter-proof glass is standard on the IVC3D, and the system is available in ‘food-grade’ plastic. The robust IP65-rated enclosure contains the optics, laser, 3D sensor, processor, I/O, serial and Ethernet communication architecture.

With quality being so high on the agenda with both manufacturers and consumers alike, equipment like the IVC3D is starting to see greater acceptance as part of overall quality programmes in a great many industries. Indeed its power and flexibility make it an ideal candidate for quality regimes across multiple applications from just about all spectra of industry.